Family & Community Partners Resources (FCPR) and Family & Community Partners (FCP) will host their first annual Mental Health Community Conference on May 9 at the Ivy Tech Community College Event Center in Indianapolis.
The free, daylong event begins with registration at 8 a.m., followed by conference programming from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 2820 N. Meridian St. Walk-ins are welcome, and the conference is open to individuals ages 13 and older. Childcare will be available on-site.
Organizers say the conference is designed to support prevention priorities outlined by the Marion County Public Health Department under the Health First Indiana initiative. The focus includes early intervention, mental health promotion, substance use prevention and improving coordination of care across community-based systems.
The event will bring together licensed mental health professionals, faith leaders, social workers and community members to address common and preventable mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression, substance use, trauma and family conflict.
The conference mission centers on reducing stigma and identifying barriers while promoting culturally competent, scalable solutions.
Programming will include a moderated panel discussion featuring clinicians, faith leaders and community partners focused on early identification of mental health and substance use concerns, as well as appropriate responses in community and faith-based settings. Panelists will also discuss referral pathways to clinical and prevention-focused services.
Attendees can also participate in prevention-focused breakout sessions tailored to youth, men, women and families. These sessions will highlight coping strategies, communication skills and protective factors that can help reduce the need for crisis-level interventions.
A professional learning track will introduce the GAP Model, a framework designed to clarify the roles of clinical providers and community or pastoral support systems, reduce burnout among frontline community leaders and improve referral coordination.
The conference will also feature a keynote address and community resource vendors offering information on local prevention and wellness services.
“True transformation happens when we stop treating mental health as a silo and start embracing it as a shared responsibility between clinical expertise and faith leaders. This conference is not just about conversation — it’s about activating solutions that meet people where they are and move them toward sustainable healing and wholeness,” said Preston T. Adams III, founder of the Men and Mental Health Movement and president and CEO of Family and Community Partners Resources.
“Closing the gap between psychotherapy and communities of faith involves reducing stigma, identifying barriers and providing both culturally competent and trauma-informed solutions. The Mental Health Community Conference is one of the many ways we achieve that,” said Dwight Holland, founding partner and chairman of Family & Community Partners and Family & Community Partners Resources.
Organizers say the event aims to strengthen mental health literacy, improve early intervention pathways and expand access to community-based support. By equipping trusted community spaces with tools and resources, the conference seeks to address mental health needs before they escalate into crisis situations.
To learn more, visit fcprindy.org.
This reporting is made possible by a grant from the Indianapolis African-American Quality of Life Initiative, empowering our community with essential health insights. https://iaaqli.org/
Contact Health & Environmental Reporter Hanna Rauworth at 317-762-7854 or follow her on Instagram at @hanna.rauworth.
Hanna Rauworth is the Health & Environmental Reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper, where she covers topics at the intersection of public health, environmental issues, and community impact. With a commitment to storytelling that informs and empowers, she strives to highlight the challenges and solutions shaping the well-being of Indianapolis residents.
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